Sustainability
Riding your bike can be the greenest thing you do and as cyclists we are reliant on the environment we ride in.
Along with the company it makes a ride.
Climate Change is affecting each of us whether we like it or not and its especially noticeable here in the Alps.
We urge to to take a minute or two to think about the impact each ride has on the local and worldwide environment. If you are visiting our awesome area, have a look at the environmental cost of your holiday too so that future generations will be able to enjoy our awesome arena as much as we do.
As tourists, wherever we are travelling, we have a responsibility to the local culture and economy. Below you can find some local produce to try and some friendly requests to help keep cyclists welcome on the roads.
Montagne Verte is a Morzine Not-for-Profit promoting and raising awareness of sustainable tourism in the area.
How to buy local…
Buying locally made and sold products is a great way to support the local economy, try some new things and reduce the carbon footprint of what you eat.
Heres some suggestions that we took it upon ourselves to test for you - someone has to!
ENERGY BARS
HARDBARS are energy bars made in Chamonix by an awesome group of people. They are organic, full of good stuff and they plant a tree for each bar bought. Winner! We can particularly recommend the gingerbread flavour.
Available in Epicerie Montriond and Torico Bike Shop
MILK AND YOGURTS
The Ferme Du Caly produces good fresh milk, cheeses and yogurts. Their greek yogurt is a particular favourite pre and post ride. We’re hooked.
Available direct from the farm in St Jean D’Aulps or the Carrefour supermarkets.
LOCAL EGGS
Locally laid free range Eggs from Marin in the Pays du Gavot are also sold in the local supermarkets. Free Range is Plein Air in French. You’ll ride past them if you climb from Publier up towards Vinzier…
Available in all local supermarkets.
LOCAL BEER
IBEX Beer is brewed here in Morzine. We have read somewhere that ONE beer is actually quite good recovery post long hot ride, its just the others that follow that don’t help so much… After extensive research we think one if these works a treat after a hot Joux Plane.
Available direct from the Microbrasserie and on tap at the Marmotte d’Or in Montriond amongst others.
RESPONSABLE PRODUCTS
La Marque des Consommateur or ‘The Consumer’s Brand’ is a French co-op that produces basic goods and guarantees good quality and a fair price for the producers, and is open about how much they get. You can get some of their products in all the supermarkets here too. Look out for the distinctive packaging.
Available in most French Supermarkets
LOCAL COFFEE
Satellite is the place to go for a coffee to drink in (sur place in French) along with lots of delicious grub to keep you fuelled. You can also buy beans direct and they will grind them for you for that morning pre ride coffee.
Available from Satellite Coffee House on Rue du Bourg.
How to minimise the impact of your ride…
Theres a few things you can do to help keep the mountains a place that everyone can enjoy, whether on two wheels or not…
Packaging and Wrappers
Choose bike food/snacks with recyclable packaging if possible.
It goes without saying but take your rubbish with you! Every year hundred of gel pouches have to be picked up - please don’t add to them in our wild back garden.
Etiquette
With the increase of bikes on the road in our valley drivers have been getting frustrated and there has been a decrease in courtesy on all sides. Be mindful of traffic building up behind you especially on main roads and pull in occasionally to let it past.
You can find the French laws for cycling on the road, plus the signs you’ll encounter, on our Advice page. Along with lots of helpful tips for riding out here in the mountains.
How to minimise the impact of your trip…
Its not just when you ride, we can minimise our impact through all our actions.
Carbon offsetting
A lot has been written about the effectiveness of Carbon Offsetting. For sure not producing the emissions in the first place is better than offsetting elsewhere but seeing as we produce some everyday by living its worth looking at offsetting them.
Carbon Calculator
Carbon Footprint has a good online calculator here
When offsetting look for the Verified Carbon Standard. Carbon footprint allows you to choose how and where you offset.